LANSING –   The Michigan House of Representatives on June 23 approved by a 67-43 vote legislation that would allow community colleges to offer selected bachelor's degrees. A similar bill was introduced into the Senate earlier this month; any Senate action on the bill would come after Labor Day when the legislature returns from its summer receess.

Advocates for the bill have pointed out that it will allow community colleges to increase access and affordability to higher education for Michigan citizens. The House bill, HB 4496, was introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R-Livonia) and would permit Michigan’s community colleges to offer programs of study in limited areas leading to four-year, bachelor of applied science degrees in energy production, concrete technology, maritime technology, culinary arts and nursing.   Each one of these areas is proposed in response to specific employer demand not currently being met by the State’s 4-year university system. A similar bill, Senate Bill 225, has also been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake).

For many community college students, transferring to a four-year school is impeded by job and family constraints as well as cost. The proposed four-year programs will give students, particularly older, part-time and working students, greater access to an education in high-demand applied sciences. Many of these students would be unable to consider enrolling in a four year college otherwise. “Michigan has a world-class university system, but it is out of the reach of many people in our state,” said Michael Hansen, President of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA). “These four-year degree programs will allow us to maximize the community college infrastructure and respond to workforce shortages in specific regions, in specific occupations and industries."

Schoolcraft College has expressed an interest in offering bachelor's degrees in nursing and culinary arts. The college's president, Dr. Conway A. Jeffress, has joined other community college presidents and the MCCA in advocating for the legislation.

Jeffress is especially concerned about the pricetag of a four-year degree. "Our concern is for students," Jeffress said. "Anything which causes them to pay more for the same product is against the best interest of Michigan and its people."

Walsh describes the legislation in terms leaders in Lansing needing to do more with less. "It is not fiscally responsible to spend money developing new programs at the state's 4-year university system when community colleges already have the curriculum, faculty, and existing capacity to meet the demand for these specific baccalaureate programs," said Walsh. "This bill is a step in the right direction towards curbing workforce shortages, increasing access to affordable education, and reducing unemployment.”

Michigan would not be the first state to permit four-year degrees at community colleges. According to the national Community College Baccalaureate Association, 21 other states currently authorize community colleges to offer such degrees under certain circumstances: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Legislation is pending in a number of other states.